Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Referees
Timeline
Generic

Kristen Swindlehurst

Bardon,QLD

Summary

Experienced and compassionate vet nurse with 3+ years experience and a strong attention to detail seeking a clinical nursing role in a friendly and dynamic environment.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

VET NURSE

Toowong Family Vet
02.2021 - Current
  • Collaborating with and liaising between fellow nursing staff, veterinarians, customer care team and clients to deliver best possible outcomes for patients and their people in every possible instance.
  • Organisation and planning to optimise efficient running of day and minimise roadblocks where possible.
  • Routine sample collection and diagnostics (biochemistry and haematology panels, urinalysis, faecal float and cytology).
  • Proficient user of IDEXX machines such as Sedivue, Catalyst Dx and Procyte Dx.
  • Ensuring surgery/prep areas/consult rooms set up safely, effectively and in a timely manner with gold standard patient care and anticipation of veterinarian's needs in mind.
  • Safely administering anaesthesia to patients during procedures. Patient monitoring using Sp02, HR, RR temperature and BP measurement.
  • Catheterisation skills and catheter care, IVFT set up and maintenance.
  • Safe patient restraint and handling across feline, canine, wildlife and exotic species.
  • Preparation of surgical instrument packs and drapes including instrument care and autoclave use and maintenance.
  • Strong knowledge of core and non-core vaccination schedules and parasite prophylactics.
  • Client care and stakeholder relationship building including client education, representative negotiations and local rescue/wildlife carer communications.
  • Proficient performance of radiographs using Carestream software.
  • General cleaning and infectious disease control.
  • Responsible for admission and discharge of patients for routine procedures.
  • Developed clinic ‘Nursing Knowledge' collaborative ongoing learning database system for nurses and support staff.
  • Development of clinic mental health and wellness programs and events to foster positive and supportive clinic culture.
  • Daily maintenance of in-house cat boarding facility including administration of medications, grooming, feeding and cleaning.

VET NURSE

Rangeside Veterinarians
02.2021 - 02.2022
  • Undertaking sample collection and diagnostic testing such as blood draws, urinalysis, faecal floats, and ear cytology
  • Proficient catheterisation, IVFT set up of hospital and surgical patients.
  • Patient restraint during physical assessments, blood draws, vaccinations and consults
  • Preparation of surgical instrument packs and drapes including autoclave use and maintenance
  • Reception duties including client communications, patient triage and schedule management
  • Anaesthetic monitoring including developing anaesthetic and analgesic plan with supervising veterinarian including surgical nursing from pre-op to recovery
  • Assisted veterinarians with radiographs and ultrasounds
  • General cleaning and maintenance of clinic
  • Admission and discharge of patients for routine procedures
  • Knowledge of VisionVPM software

LABORATORY ANIMAL TECHNICIAN

Agilex Biolabs
10.2019 - 01.2022
  • Responsible for maintaining high standards of husbandry practices and animal welfare in line with animal ethics guidelines in a large scale facility
  • Clinical observations and study participant monitoring including, detailed record keeping for 400+ rodents involved in toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies.
  • Necropsy auxiliary including tissue specimen sampling, organ weighing, blood and bone marrow smears and shipment preparation.
  • Cleaning and general maintenance of facility including necropsy rooms, surgeries, and laboratories
  • Adhering to Standard Operating Procedures, OH&S mindfulness and compliance
  • Detailed and accurate communications when reporting to supervisors and research staff,
  • Strong knowledge of Provantis software

SALES SPECIALIST

BOSE
12.2017 - 10.2019
  • Specialist sales assistant in a high-end retail environment
  • Demonstrated ability to meet KPIs and sales targets
  • Expert product knowledge
  • Technical support customer care
  • Clienteling and relationship building
  • Stock-take of inventory

ANIMAL ASSISTANT

Catalyst Environment And Education Services
06.2011 - 12.2017
  • Responsible for the husbandry and welfare of rodent breeding trios to sustain a sizeable snake breeding facility
  • Rodent cage preparation and housing maintenance including maintenance of environmental enrichment
  • Hygiene control and health management
  • Feeding and watering duties including FIFO rotation of feed,
  • Detailed record keeping and documentation
  • OH&S mindfulness and compliance,
  • Rodent euthanasia via CO2 treatment

Education

Bachelor of Science - Veterinary Technology

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Gatton, Australia

Bachelor of Arts - Drama

QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
11.2016

Skills

  • Strong sense of humour and non-judgemental philosophy
  • Unwavering commitment to delivering best possible care to every patient, every time
  • Adept at maintaining professionalism and working under pressure in high intensity environments
  • Thrives in teams environment and actively seeks opportunities for collaborative learning
  • Values working independently to meet personal responsibilities in workplace but knows when asking for help is appropriate
  • Passion for delivering exceptional client care and fostering strong community relationships
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Enthusiastic and can-do attitude with strong capacity for problem solving
  • Commitment to ongoing formal and informal learning for betterment of myself, patients and fellow veterinary professionals

Certification

  • Auslan I, Deaf Services Queensland - Sept - Oct 2023
  • Auslan II, Deaf Services Queensland - March - April 2024

Referees

Dr Tahnya White - Toowong Family Vet

Ph: 0429 633 556 

Email: fahn50@yahoo.com.au


Nurse Kristin Robertson - Toowong Family Vet 

Ph: 0421 567 049

Email: kristink91@hotmail.com

Timeline

VET NURSE

Toowong Family Vet
02.2021 - Current

VET NURSE

Rangeside Veterinarians
02.2021 - 02.2022

LABORATORY ANIMAL TECHNICIAN

Agilex Biolabs
10.2019 - 01.2022

SALES SPECIALIST

BOSE
12.2017 - 10.2019

ANIMAL ASSISTANT

Catalyst Environment And Education Services
06.2011 - 12.2017

Bachelor of Science - Veterinary Technology

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Bachelor of Arts - Drama

QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
  • Auslan I, Deaf Services Queensland - Sept - Oct 2023
  • Auslan II, Deaf Services Queensland - March - April 2024
Kristen Swindlehurst